Eractttre-detecting device



Oct. 14, 1930. H. VAN DYKEN 1,778,648

FRAC'IURE DETECTING DEVICE Filed June 11, 1929 fizz/6172b? 162/2 y/zen, MM

Patented Oct. 14, 1930 may vm DYKEN, or rwo' HARBORS, MINNESOTA PATENT OFFI/CE FRACTURE-DETECTING DEVICE Application filed June 11,

This invention relates to means for indicating fractures in crank pins and the like, and is illustrated herein as embodied in. a structure of the same general type as that disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,052,392, granted to me on February 4, 1913. r

In the patent referred to, there is disclosed a crank pin provided with a cylindrical recess adapted to receive a frangible containerand under ordinary conditions the outer open end of the recess'is sealed by means of a screw-threaded plug that carries a fracturing implement. Thus, in use, the frangible container enclosing an odoriferous or colored liquid is placed within the cylindrical recess, the screw-threaded plug is put in place and thereafter the implement is actuated to fracture the container whereupon the liquid spills therefrom and moves about in the cylindrical recess. By means of such a pr0vi-' sion any crack that appears in that portion of the crankpin enclosing the liquid will permit the escape of the liquid through the fracture opening thereby liberating the liquid and calling attention to the fact that the fracture has occurred.

ile the device disclosed in my prior patent operated successfully for most purposes, it was found subject to certain improvements. For example, the fracturing implement extended laterally from the end of the crank pin in which position it was exposed and was very liable to strike external objects and become loose, or brbken. Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide an improved fracture indicating device'which is located wholly within the crank pin and does not extend outwardly theret from.

' Another disadvantage of the prior device vvas that the screw-threaded plug and the fracturing device could be removed by people tampering with them whereupon the odorift5 erous or colored liquid would escape rendering the device inoperative and otherwise cansing inconvenience by the unwarranted escape of the indicating fluid. It is accordingly a further object'of the present inven- W tion to provide a; fracture indicating device 1929. Serial No. 370,023.

that is fool-proof in character and cannot be put out of operation by a person tampering with it. L I

A feature of the invention which is conducive to the accomplishment of the recited objects consists inproviding a cylindrical recess in the crank pin and in closing the outer open end of the recess by means of a lug which hermeticaly seals the recess and is fixed in position in such a manner that it cannot be removed without considerable labor being involved.

To permit the use of a sealed chamber, or recess, and the use. of a solid plug closing the open extremity? of the recess some provision must be made that dispenses with the necessity of providing a fracturing im lement, and accordingly, a further object o the present invention consists in the provision of an improved method of liberating the indicating w liquid within the sealed container. It has been found that if the liquid is first placed within a frangible container having its end closed by a stopper, or other suitable seal, and the container then placed within the cylin- 'm drical recess, or chamber, and sealed in place therein by means of the solid plug, that when the crank pin is operating and frictionalliy; engaging the surrounding parts that enoug heat is developed to cause the liquid within the container to expand and force out the stopper thus liberating the liqdid and allowing it to flow into the chamber from which it is ready to leak out of any crack or fracture that may develop giving warning by its color and odor of the dangerous condition.

Other objects and features of the invention will become a parent from a reading of the following spe ification, in which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of a 1000- at motive wheel equipped in. accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view partially in section of the wheel shown in Figurel;

Figure 3 is a view of a frangible container at that is employed in connection with the invention; and

Figure 4 is a view of a screw-threaded plug which may likewise be employed in connection with the invention.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 indicates a portion of a driving wheel of a locomotive, or the like, the same being provided with the usual crank pin 12. Formed within the outer end of the crank pin 12 is a cylindrical cavity, or recess, 14 I having a screw-threaded outer extremity 16. Adapted to be positioned within the chamber, or recess, 14:, is a frangible container 18, shown more clearly in Figure 3, which comprises the customary hollow body and a stopper, or other suitable seal, 20 located in the open end of the container.

To the end of holding the container in place within the recess 14 there may be provided a closure, or plug. 22, and it has been found that a very suitable type of plug for this use is one such as is illustrated in Figure 4 and comprises a body portion 24 and a head, or engaging portion, 26 (shown in dotted lines) that is connected with the body portion 2.4: by means of a reduced neck portion 28. In operation, the plug may be inserted in the opening and screwed firmly thereinto by means of a wrench or other suitable appliance engaging the head portion 26. When the plug, or body portion, 24 has reached the extent of its travel into the opening, continued twisting pressure may be applied to the head 26 to cause the neck portion 28 to give way thereby leaving the body portion of the plug firmly engaged within the open extremity of the chamber. When the plug has been inserted in this manner it cannot be removed accidentally and in fact can only be removed by means of considerable time and effort being expended.

In order still further to seal the outer open extremity of the chamber 14 the edge of the plug 24 may be riveted over thereby hermetically sealing the cavity and completely preventing accidental displacement of the plug.

hen a plug of this character is employed, it is necessary to make provision for liberating the odoriferous, or colored, liquid disposed within the container 18, and although such liberation has heretofore been brought about by means of a fracturing implement associated with the closure plug 22, it has been found that the liberation may be effected by means of the heat generated during the operation of the locomotive driving wheel. Thus. the liquid may be placed within the container 18 and the stopper inserted in the container after which the container may be placed and sealed within the recess 14. Now upon the driving wheel being put into op eration sufficient heat will be generated to cause the liquid within the container to eX- pand and to force the stopper outof the eon tainer which will permit the liquid to flow into the cavity 12 where it will remain po'ssibly for two years, or such a time, until a crack, or fracture, indicated bythe reference numeral 30, may develop whereupon the mvaeee liquid will be liberated and will seep outward through the fracture causing a discoloration on the outside of the driving wheel, or exerting a strong odor that will give warning of the existence of the fracture.

Inasmuch as fractures almost invariably occur at certain well-defined localities in crank pins and the like, it is to be appreciated that by providing recesses and locating the fracture indicating device at those localities that practically all fractures will be taken care of. Thus, in crank pins that are associated with the driving wheels of locomotives the fractures in almost every instance occur at the point indicated on the drawings by the reference character 30.

Although the invention has been disclosed herein with particular reference to the driving wheel of a locomotive it is to be under stood, of course, that the invention contemplates employment in connection with any device. or apparatus, that is liable to fracture, and that the invention is in nowise limited, nor restricted, to the exact machine part in connection with which it is employed. Furthermore, various changes and modifications in the design and construction of the illus trated device may be made without departing from the true scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Let it also be pointed out at this stage that the invention contemplates the use of various kinds of indicating substances. Thus, it is not essential that'a liquid in a container be used for it might well be that a solid substance which would become liquid under certain temperatures could be employed with success.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination with a mechanical instrumentality that is subject to fracture and is provided with a recess located within the area subject to fracture, of a container having an indicating liquid sealed therein adapted to be inserted within the recess and unitary means for sealing the open end of the recess to retain the container therein.

2. The combination with a mechanical instrumentality that is subject to fracture and is provided with a recess located within the area subject to fracture. of a container adapted to be inserted into the recess, said container being filled with an indicating liquid, and a semi-permanent seal forming a closure for the open end of the recess, said seal comprising a solid plug adapted to be threaded into said recess for hermetically sealing the same.

3. That improvement in methods of lib crating an indicating substance within a recess, which comprises first placing the substance in a closed container, placing the container within the recess, hermetically sealing the recess, and utilizing heat that is devel- HARRY VAN DYKEN. 

